I haven't gotten any feedback to my last chapter. (Mostly due to me writing this literally a day after posting the first one) Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 1: Reflection

I feel the intense pain throb in my head as everything comes into focus, waking up in this strange house. I look up from the bed I'm laying on to the rest of the room and can't help but wonder where I am. I try moving, and to my own dismay, sharp pain shoot up through my entire body. I get up, fighting through the overwhelming pain, and walk up to a large mirror to asses my damages.

I first start with my throbbing head, seeing that my scalp is covered with bandages. I do notice a few places where my blonde curls come through the gaps, and the spots of red near the sides. I then look down to my chest, noticing that I'm shirtless and covered with gauze. The amount of bruises seem endless as I direct my attention back to my face. I look into my own eyes, blue as always, until I can't help but look to the scar under my right eye as my mind wonders off.

I remember this one... Then again, how could I forget... Seems like only yesterday...

It was a cold, winter afternoon as I was walking my way home from trainer school. I took my usual route through some backyards and an alleyway, but I happened on to something. It was in the alleyway when I way them, the well-known schoolyard jackass, Randel, and his two cronies. They were always up to no good, either causing trouble to the adults or harassing the rest of us for "respect." I tend to just ignore him in general, try not to get involved, but I couldn't help but to stop and watch this time.

"If you know what is good for you, you should cough up the money now!" Randel looks down to the younger kid, smirking.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I-I don't have any mon-" The small, brown-haired child was saying, before being grabbed by Randel's "henchmen" and thrown into the wall and held there.

"Don't play games with my kid. You are going to pay us for your... 'protection.'" As he says it, his friends just snicker.

I felt my blood boil as I stood there, watching them, too scared to take action.

"I already told you, I-I don't have any mon-" He gets out before he takes a fist to the gut.

"It doesn't matter, four-eyes, because either way, you're going to 'pay.'' He punches him in the jaw and just laughs as he starts crying.

I feel my heart racing as I stare down the alleyway, my feet planted in the snow, feeling nothing but anger at this point.

"Here, I'll give you something-" He take the kids glasses and throws them on the ground. "-to cry about!"

I hear the crunch of the glasses as he stomps on them, at the same time breaking something in my mind as I run in and yell out to him, "Stop this now, Randel!"

The four of them as surprised by my presence, but only Randel reacts, smirking. "Oh, why if it isn't my good ol' pal, Matt? Come to watch the show?"

Furious, I immediately blurt out, "I'm not your pal! And I said 'stop' you lardass!"

Obviously pissed off, he walks forward. "I'm going to make you regret those words you little shit!" He charges at me and takes a swing. I manage to duck underneath and I elbow him in his back.

He turns back to me and gives me a hook to the jaw, knocking me onto my back. I manage to get up before he can get to me and give him an uppercut, sending him reeling back a few feet, before I give him a quick jab to the face. He ends up backing off for a moment, giving us both a second to rest.

We both are left panting as we stand there in the cold. I notice a small glint in his eye, but I don't notice it until it is too late. He slashes me across my cheek with a switchblade, which most likely is his fathers, making me reel back and hold my gash. "What's wrong Matt? Are you scared? You were talking big just a second ago, but now it looks like you have learned you place.. Now, say you're sorry!" He start towards me with the knife, giving me little time to think.

I do see one thing that I can go for, a rusted and broken pipe that lays still in the snow, behind Randel. I make for it with haste, once again ducking under his assault and I grab the pipe. Without thinking, I turn and swing the rusted weapon and smack his hand with it, breaking the knife into pieces, and most likely a finger or two.

I see him move away as he yells out in pain, turning his back to me, before I close in and hit him in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. I hear scrambling behind me and glare back at the goons as they were trying to sneak away and they take off running.

I return my gaze back to the red-head and watches as he starts out the alleyway, yelling, "I'll get you for this Matt!" on his way out.

I drop the iron pipe and turn to the brown-haired child. "Are you okay? You're not hurt too bad are you?"

He looks up from the ground and makes eye contact. "I-I'm alright... B-but I don't know how I can tell my parents about this..." He looks back down to the ground.

I look down and pick up his broken glasses. "I'm sorry about your glasses. And don't worry, I'll help you explain to them."

He then smiles a little bit, but winces at the pain brought to him by the hook he took earlier. "Th-thanks... By the way, they called you 'Matt.' Is that your name?"

I smile at him and nod. "Yeah, I'm Matt." I offer my hand out to him. "Seen you around, but I haven't gotten the chance to say 'hello.'"

He takes may hand and shakes it as he say, "Yeah, same. My name is-"

"Alex." I think to myself. It has been a good couple years since then, yet it still seems like only yesterday that it happened...

I take another good, hard look into the mirror. We have done a lot of growing since then. I helped him learn to fend for himself, and he helped me a lot during out studying... We are older now, grown to maybe around five feet tall, but we still resemble what we used to be like...

It was at this time, I finally notice a man dressed in blue standing behind me...

I have put a lot into this chapter, and even had it get deleted on me, so I really hope you all like it! ^^